Apparatus used in the formation of models of building structures



9 o. GOTTSCHALK APPARATUS USED IN THE FORMATION OF MODELS OF BUILDING STRUCTURES Filed Dec. 12, 1930 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' 1934- I o. GOTTSCHALK 1,980,332

APPARATUS USED IN THE FURMATION OF MODELS OF BUILDING STRUCTURES Filed Dec. 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EVl/f/l y Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES.

APPARATUS USED IN THE FORMATION OF MODELS OF BUILDING STRUCTURES Otto GrittSchalhBuenos Aires, Argentina Application December 12, 1930, Serial No. 501,956

2 Claims. (01. 4635) The present invention has reference to an apparatus designed for use in constructing models of buildings or beams of buildings for determin ing statical calculations of structures.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for subjecting the models to certain displacements and deformations, to permit the statical calculations to be readily and. accurately made.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp or holder for connecting the ends of. splines or metallic strips, the clamp being constructed in such a way that the metallic splines orstrips clamped by the device, maybe bent to various angles with respect to each. other, to accomplish the purpose of. the invention.

A still further object is. to provide a spline, of malleable metal, which when bent' under-normal pressure, will return to its normal state, but-will remain in a bent condition when bent under excessive'pressure.

With. the foregoingland other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and.

1 arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed,

without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating a model constructed in accordance with the invention, the

: same being shown in dotted lines, as deformed.

Figure 2 is a view illustrating a model slightly deformed, the deformation being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a fragmental view of a model showing beams as connected by vertical and angular Figure 8 is a view illustrating clamps used in clamping.

Figure 9, is a perspective view illustrating one of: the angle plates, used in connection with the clamps.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the clamps.

Figure 11 is a View illustrating a plate used in connection with the clamps, the plate having a three point contact.

Figure 12 is a view illustrating one form of bending. device.

Figure 13 is a sectional view through another form of bending device. f

Figure 14 is a view indicating a further form of bendin device.

Figure 15 is a view indicating a still further form. of bending device.

- Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference: character 5 designates a spline, constructed of suitable flexible material, the same being e ons ruction to r p s 3 WV! c umn portal, the structure having been moved laterally indicating the positions assumed by the structure when subjected to a horizontal thrust.

The reference character 6 designates a clamp that embodies spaced fingers 7, one of the fingers being formed with a threaded opening to receive the set screw 8 which is adapted to extend through the finger in which it is supported, to engage the splines, or metal strips used in forming the model, to hold the strips connected.

The reference character 9 designates a curved member used in connection with the splines, the splines being indicated by the reference character 10, the construction of the member 9 being such as to form a corner of the model being constructed.

In the form of the invention as illustrated by Figure 11, the device is formed with a plurality of arms 11 which extend at oblique angles with respect to each other, the arms 11 being so arranged that the splines or metallic strips may be held thereagainst, in the formation of a corner wherein three strips or splines are connected.

The reference character 12 designates the body portion of one of the bending members, the body ortion comprising upstanding fingers 13 which are disposed at angles with respect to each other, the members 13 cooperating with the block 14, which is formed with inclined surfaces defining a sharp contacting edge 15.

Extending upwardly from one end of the body portion, is a plate 16 which is formed with a threaded opening to receive the set screw 17 that bears against the member 14 to move the member 14 into engagement with the spline, which is indicated by the reference character 18. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, the spline or metallic strip 18, may be bent or deformed, by the use of the bending member. The bending member shown by Figure 14 of the drawings comprises a body portion 19 which is formed with a block 20 that extends from one side thereof, the block 20 being disposed opposite to the fingers 21 that are formed with threaded openings to receive the set screws 22, with the result that the spline to be bent, is placed against the block 20, and the set screws 22 forced thereagainst, bending the spline or metallic strip.

The reference character 23 designates the body portion of a further form of bending device, the same being provided with spaced upstanding fingers 24 that cooperate'with the movable block 25, which in turn is moved into clamping relation with the finger 24 by means of the set screw A still further form of bending device is illustrated by Figure 13 of the drawings, and comprises a base or body portion 27 formed with spaced side plates 28 that have threaded openings to receive the set screws 29 and 30 respectively, the set screws 29 being shown as positioned in threaded openings of the block 30' which has a curved surface against which the spline 31 rests, during the bending operation.

It will of course be obvious that the set screws 30 are moved against the spline 31 to cause the same to take the form of the block 30'. The block 30 may be removed and replaced by a block having a greater or less degree of curvature, to meet various requirements.

As shown by Figure 4, the spline which is indicated by the reference character 32, is formed with a deformed portion A, deformed by means of a bending device such as shown by Figure 12 of the drawings. The bending devices shown by Figure '7 of the drawings, comprise bars 33 that have .ears 34 extending therefrom, the cars 34 having threaded openings to receive the set screws 35 that carry heads 36 designed to clamp against the spline, indicated by the reference character 37, the splines being forced against the blocks 38 carried at the ends of the bars 33.

A point of deformation is illustrated at B in Figure 6 of the drawings, which deformed .portion may be formed by applying a bending device such as illustrated by Figure 12 of the drawings.

In Figure 3 the splines 39 indicate the main beams of astructure, which are connected by the angular bars 40 and vertical bars 41, which bars may be deformed by any of the bending devices illustrated, for determining the statical calculations.

Iclaim:

1. In a device for connecting the ends of metallic strips used in the formation of models of building structureaa splice bar curved intermediate its ends and positioned against the inner surface of the strips to be connected,.and clamping members embracing the overlapped. ends of the metallic strips and splice bar whereby the metallic strips may be slid through the clamps and secured in their positions of adjustment.

2. In a device for connecting the ends of metallic strips used in the formation of 'models of buildings, a splice bar curved intermediate its 

